17/7/00 - Trent Bridge century keeps milestone in view

And that's to complete 1,000 first class runs in a season -- just as he did in 1998 when he nudged past the magical figure by notching 1,001.

Last week he topped the 500 mark thanks to a number of eye-catching scores this term, including a century in the County Championship match against Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge last month.

"In Championship cricket I've managed to accumulate decent scores on wickets that again, like most places, have been quite helpful to the seamers. It's been quite enjoyable to pick up 50s and 60s and, of course, the hundred at Notts," said the 32-year-old who made his County debut back in 1988.

His 117 off the Notts attack was Leatherdale's 11th first class century of his career and the first since scoring 137 against Middlesex at Uxbridge in May, 1998.

Regarding his Trent Bridge innings, he said: "I was in the middle for more than four hours and when you bat at number six the opportunities for that length of time don't come very often.

"A few more would be nice, it's just having the opportunities to perform as the season goes on. When we get on to decent wickets then hopefully I can carry on and add runs to what I've got already."

Leatherdale is also hopeful of boosting his haul of limited-over runs, particularly after registering a career-best 53 in the first of Worcestershire's third round matches against Gloucestershire at New Road.

Although the game was ordered to be replayed, records in the original clash stand.

"In the one-day stuff, batting where I do, you are either going in at 40-3 or 40-4 or something like that or you are in at 200-4 with not many overs to go. But to be honest the one-day matches have been quite pleasing for me, reaching the teens and above regularly."

Despite recent setbacks, Leatherdale is convinced Worcestershire can end up with a successful season under their belts.

"We have gelled quite well and the younger lads have come good.

"Elliott Wilson had a good start and although Vikram Solanki, as he admitted, struggled a little bit at the start, he then had a real purple patch where he played exceptionally well. Paul Pollard has also played well in the one-day game and hopefully he'll carry on.

"We have decent starts in the one-day stuff which is what we did when we played well eight or ten years ago. Getting good 50s and 60s for the first wicket in a dozen or 15 overs gives you a sound start and enables the likes of myself, Steve Rhodes, Stuart Lampitt and Richard Illingworth to come down in the order to either post a decent total or chase a total."

Although Worcestershire are pushing hard for title glory in the Norwich Union National League Division One, the experienced Leatherdale is well aware that the crunch has yet to come.

"Obviously, there are eight other teams in the division all of which are good bowling sides and are going to beat other sides at the top. You only need to get on a losing streak and you disappear away from the rest of the field.

"But the main thing, as our coach Bill Athey said at the start of the season, is to be in the first division in the Championship and that's how I see it.

"You could say we have been a little bit up and down really. You are going to lose games like we did against Sussex last month where we were a little bit lethargic and tired.

"We played the day-night game the day before after having a busy week and I think that got to the lads a little bit. We didn't bat or bowl as well as we should have done on a wicket which again did plenty. They put it in the right place and we didn't."

Leatherdale knows that consistency is the name of the game if the County intend to finish among the honours.

"It's very much about creating a consistency throughout the team. With someone like Glenn McGrath in the side we need to back that up with the other lads which has been happening pretty well. Stewart Lampitt has bowled exceptionally well all season, really tight. The same with Richard Illingworth. We've gelled well and hopefully in the end that will count."